Cold Booties, Mittens and Cap
I have my first chemotherapy this coming Wednesday. I have ordered the Suzzipad Cold Booties, Mittens and Cap but it won't arrive up until my third treatment. I have my chemotherapy at the RBWH in Brisbane. Does anyone know where I could rent this equipment until I get mine delivered? Is it common to wear compression stockings as well? And what do you use to protect your nails other than using cryotherapy?Grade 3 Oncotype Test Chemo decisions
Hi all, I’m in the challenging time of making decisions about chemo and would love to hear experiences from others journey particularly with any similar cancer. I have had lumpectomy on left breast results showing- Stage 2A invasive carcinoma 25mm Grade 3, HR+ PR-HER2- with lymphovascular invasion but all 13 lymph nodes sampled as clear. I am 39yo and very active and healthy (apart from this)! I pooled my savings to get the oncotype DX ordered- I am now waiting for results. (Still can’t believe we have to pay $5000 for this). I understand the Grade 3 PR negative and lymphovascular invasion detected are likely risk factors that tip towards benefits of chemo. But I have been reading more about the effectiveness of hormone therapies like OS+AI and that perhaps I could avoid chemo. I will let you all know my score when it comes back- I hope it’s low but if it’s high I’m facing such hard decisions that any similar experiences may help! thank you
Cold cap size
I'm under going 4 rounds of AC and have used the cold cap medium size First round didn't lose any hair and had a hair cut in between rounds and lost allot of hair from my crown in the second round. I'm wanted some advise on whether I should go to the small size as does the firmness of the fit impact success?
A little vanity…
Hey chat,first time query having just been diagnosed, starting chemo 11/08. If anyone has experience with having created their eyebrows before losing them, that would be appreciated. Also, I read in the TCHP side effects document, not to keep ‘fake’ nails, however, my oncologist said ‘good, keep your acrylics for nails protection’ , if anyone can give me your feedback, I’d appreciate it, thankyou.
Recommendations-North Brisbane -Public v Private- Surgeons
Hi Everyone, I do hope everyone is travelling as well as they can be. Was hoping to hear of experiences and recommendations about Public v Private -North Brisbane. My GP has advised if I choose to go private then I need to find surgeon and they can send referral. Not sure where to start…have rang some surgeons, am feeling like I am looking for a needle in a haystack. Has anyone had experiences with going private and having significant out of pocket expenses? Or going Public and what wait times/facilities are like, that they are comfortable in sharing. Preliminary advice is that it is likely treatment will be Chemotherapy then surgery, nothing confirmed until appointment with surgeon.
Telling my toddler and child I have breast cancer
Hi All, Last month I was diagnosed with IDC and 2 weeks ago I had a single mastectomy. I have a 3 and 5 yr old who I am struggling on how to discuss this with them. So far for all the surgeries and appointments we have told them 'Mummy has a sore booby' which has been enough for them. However I am likely to need chemotherapy and I with the likelyhood of hair loss I will need tell them more about what is going on. I have done reading online into how to do this however it seems to all be directed at older age groups. My children I dont think would understand cancer or even cells. We tell them to brush their teeth so they doing get bugs eating their teeth so I am worried to say I have a bug in my booby to them and scare them of bugs! Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if anyone had found a good little video or book to help them understand what cancer is?Scalp cooling - tips on cap size and forehead pressure?
Hi all, I'm about to start my first of 12 x weekly paclitaxel treatments on Monday (combined with trastuzumab infusions every three weeks). I am keen to try scalp cooling to try to reduce hair loss and had gotten my mind around the cold factor (I think!). However, I had my chemo education session yesterday and got to try on a cap. I discovered that the cap alone for just a few minutes was very uncomfortable/slightly painful on my forehead and am now not sure how I'll go with this for several hours! The nurse did get me to then try the next cap size up, but this didn't seem to be as good a fit and had a gap at the back of my head - hence may not be effective. I also didn't have a headband on when I tried the first cap - so possibly this might also help a little. Just wondering if this tightness/pressure/forehead pain is normal or if anyone else has experience and tips on dealing with this? I noticed from other posts about scalp cooling that these seem to suggest the hardest period is the first 15-20 mins and then your head acclimatises/becomes numb. Just wondering if this also applies to the feeling of tightness of the cap? Or if there are any other tips on reducing pain/pressure on your forehead during the cooling process? I figure I'll give it a go anyway on Monday as I can always stop the scalp cooling if it is too much for me, but any advice would be very welcome!
Survivorship: The Part We Don’t Talk About — But Should
I’m 11 years post my second breast cancer diagnosis, and I’m grateful every single day to still be here. I work five days a week, I show up, I contribute, and I keep moving forward. I’m proud of that. But I’ve also learned that survivorship is far more complex than anyone prepared me for. After Taxol, 5‑FU, and a DIEP flap, I now live with: permanent hair thinning, weight gain, early menopause, neuropathy, hand‑function issues, all‑over body cramping, heart failure, cataract, blocked tear ducts, damaged veins, and numbness from nerve damage. I’ve adapted. I’ve rebuilt not just physically but mentally/emotionally. I’ve learned to live in a body that’s different from the one I had before. But here’s the truth: we don’t talk about this part. Not with friends. Not with colleagues. Often not even with each other. We carry the long‑term effects quietly. We push through because that’s what survivors do. We’re grateful — deeply — but gratitude doesn’t erase the challenges. I’m sharing this to encourage honest conversations. Because survivorship is real work. Because so many of us are navigating long‑term effects in silence. Because speaking up helps others feel less alone. If any of this resonates with you, your experience is valid. We can be strong, grateful, and resilient — and still tell the truth about what survivorship really looks like.
